Best Endymion by Penhaligon's Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur

The Materie Premiere collection. 

A soft, bitter-sweet tonka and cooling lavender blend. Marie Jeanne’s beautiful vision of a 21^st century fougere.

Spiritually, number two symbolizes balance, a reminder that we are all connected. When we attune our inner self with our outer experiences, a profound equilibrium emerges. Kajal II, with its peach and bright aromatics playing against deep oakmoss, sandalwood and musk, is a tribute to this serene duality.

Perfumer: Rosendeo Mateu

No. 89 has been an icon among the Floris collection for over 60 years. First crafted in 1951, No. 89 takes its name from the number of their flagship shop on Jermyn Street.

Ian Fleming who was a customer of Floris mentions No. 89 in his James Bond universe.

No. 89 is a classic and timeless mix of fresh citruses, sparkly spices and aromatic herbs resting on sandalwood and oakmoss. There is an adventurous romantic twist in the formula though: a drop of rose.

No. 89 could be a fragrance for the quintessential English gentleman.

Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.

A celebration of great British eccentricity and all-round mischievous behaviour. This unique fragrance is an ode to the Mad Squire, his legacy of a life lived knowing no bounds and his fiendish love for outlandish stunts. This composition contains broad lashings of velvety woody opulence, finished with the earthy undertones of society’s eventual condemnation.

Squire Jack is an aromatic, oriental and woody perfume created for the rule breaker; this is a scent above all that captivates that free spirit of those that can’t just help but dare.

In Greek mythology, the Lethe is the River of Forgetfulness in the underworld of Hades. In this shadowed realm, the crimson river coils like a ribbon through clouds of dark smoke. To ford the Lethe is to overcome the thunder and silence of solitude, reclaiming your name that burns like an eternal fire. Beyond Lethe starts this fire with the warm spice of nutmeg, softened by the herbal depth of mugwort and sage, creating a mysterious and contemplative beginning. Geranium and thyme unfold with a subtle aromatic clarity, before patchouli, incense and cedarwood deepen the composition, leaving a dark, meditative trail that feels ancient and enduring.

Perfumer: Ugo Charron

Your hand guiding me in a firm but gentle hold, we slipped into the wings of the Mariinsky theatre. While the dancers warmed up to the sound of Tchaikovsky, you lent towards me and tenderly kissed my cheek, enveloping me in a sweet, lingering aroma of incense.

A story of contrasts finding its inspiration in Carine’s Slavic roots. The story of a family, of love and transmission. Vladimir is the name of Carine’s son. The contrasting ingredients of orris, incense and amber blow hot and cold, express rigor and fluidity. The fragrance opens with the icy effect of grapefruit and natural bergamot enveloped in the aromatic notes of French sage. The heart reveals the spicy notes of natural cedar and Egyptian geranium. Then arrives the warmth of Moroccan orris, a modern leathery note and a complex ambery accord composed of sensual, woody, vanilla notes.

Perfumer: Dominique Moellhausen

The sexy and impressive urbanite’s work is done for the day. He strides down the street with a nonchalant air, people noticing his clean, aromatic and seductive scent. A confident and cool vibe swirls around him. With sparkling citrus, woody vetiver and rich amber giving a fresh but dark diffusion.   

DÔL translates to meadow and is pronounced "Dole".

Homage to a traditional fougere opens with restorative bergamot and grapefruit before settling into the soft and velvety notes of lavender and hay. This niche perfume its redolent of meandering through Welsh meadows, grounding vetiver echoes the fields of ORTIR.

January 1618 A Japanese Galleon, the Pacific Ocean

Following a diplomatic mission to the West, a galleon carrying a delegation of samurai charges through dark ocean currents. Loaded with a rare and precious cargo, the ship’s hull is redolent of sweet-smelling tropical woods, heady Spanish leather, frankincense, fine black pepper and other exotic ground spices—the intoxicating spirit of a singular, extraordinary voyage of discovery.

A good perfume to visit if your are in a search for perfect true sandalwood,  smoky and a touch dirty. Arquiste carefully selected the companions for its sandal in this formula: tea and osmanthus, coffee, myrrh and stryrax and others to give it a dark, sensual depth.

***

GQ US on Nanban:

"This is my signature scent. I wear it all the time. And let me tell you: I’ve never worn something that has gotten so many compliments—no sunglasses, no sneakers, no full-body rubber suit. People actually turn their heads and ask me what I'm wearing. And then they jot down the product name. Arquiste’s masterpiece introduces itself with Malabar black pepper and Persian saffron, gives way to coffee, sandalwood, myrrh, and Spanish leather, and embraces you all day with a blanket of frankincense, balsam, and cade juniper."

Read full review

***

Financial Times' resident perfume writer Victoria Frolova on Nanban:

"... approach coffee notes creatively. Instead of mimicking nature, a perfumer instead might fashion a blend that hints at coffee’s pleasing bitterness and heady richness. Such is Arquiste’s Nanban (£160 for 100ml EDP). The composition uses a plush backdrop of woods to frame the smoky, spicy notes of myrrh and incense, with an accent of coffee to lend the composition a dark, delicious twist. It teases with its smoky, nutty warmth, but keeps its presence mellow behind layers of sandalwood and leather."

Read more